The shortlists for the 2022 cinch PCA Awards have been confirmed as Durham and England’s Matthew Potts makes the shortlist for the PCA Young Player of the Year.
A brilliant start to the domestic season saw Potts called-up to the England team where he made his Test match debut at Lord’s, taking fantastic figures of 4-13 against New Zealand on his way to the Match MVP.
Potts went on to underline his international class and became a major part of England’s upturn in fortunes, taking 20 wickets at an average of 28 from his five Tests this summer where he also took on India and South Africa. The Durham seamer also made his ODI debut following his impressive start wearing the Three Lions.
The 23-year-old also had a phenomenal LV= Insurance County Championship where he achieved six five-wicket hauls in just 10 matches. Two 10-wicket match hauls were a highlight on his way to 56 wickets at 17.9 with career best figures of 7-40.
Having impressed for England this summer, Potts continued his good form for Durham in September taking 22 wickets at an average of 13.3 from his three LV= Insurance County Championship games.
The 23-year-old quick picked up a Match MVP award on his way to collecting 112 MVP points in September, helping Durham to beat Leicestershire by seven wickets.
Potts produced one of the best bowling performances of the month in the first innings, taking 6-52 and backed up his performance with 7-49 giving him career best match figures of 13-101, earning him 60 points on the County Championship MVP Rankings.
Potts also showed his abilities with the bat in a blistering 40 off 36 balls against Nottinghamshire which included six fours and two sixes.
On winning the award Potts said: “I am very pleased with my form, it’s nice to finish what has been a productive season on a high.
“Looking back at the summer and what I have achieved is something pretty surreal. I have enjoyed every minute and I have been trying to take it in my stride.”
Following a vote by professional players in England and Wales, three current England Men’s players make up the shortlist for the cinch PCA Men’s Young Player of the Year with Harry Brook selected following successfully winning this same award in 2021. The Yorkshireman is joined by two recently capped England players in Surrey all-rounder Will Jacks and Durham’s Matthew Potts.
In the women’s category, last year’s inaugural cinch PCA Women’s Young Player of the Year, Alice Capsey, is honoured again following her international cricket breakthrough, this time shortlisted alongside Sunrisers’ Grace Scrivens and 17-year-old Freya Kemp.
The most prestigious awards ceremony in English cricket recognises the best performing individuals across the year based on the opinions of fellow players. Those aged 23 or younger as of 1 April 2022 were eligible in the Young Player of the Year Award categories.
For the first time since 2019, the cinch PCA Awards will be held in-person and will take place on Thursday 6 October at The Hurlingham Club.
The cinch PCA Men’s and cinch PCA Women’s Player of the Year shortlists will be announced at midday today (Thursday 29 September) to complete the shortlists for the prestigious awards.